The Other Vaccine

by RDavis | Music

We need all the help we can get in these difficult and crazy times. It’s worth reinforcing a piece of real news that tells us that music, whether performed or listened to, has the potential to provide the calm and respite from the storms of daily life.

Making music is not only fun, but it allows the performer to transcend the pettiness of daily life and move into a different world. The same is true for listeners. Of all the arts, music and painting provide a glimpse of immortality. We can listen to music and look at paintings that were created hundreds of years ago and they are as much alive now as when they were first offered to the public.

Maine Singer Songwriter Worth Checking Out

by RDavis | Music

Once you listen to the CD “All They Know” by guitarist and singer Stan Davis of Wayne, Maine it becomes clear that not all the great musicians are rich and famous. Davis has been playing guitar and singing for almost as many years as he has been alive and since he has retired from his day job he has put his energy into becoming a more polished and more publicly active musician.

Davis plays at many local venues and he has a web site: www.standavismusic.com to share his music with people in as many ways possible. His recent CD is a compilation of original songs that he said, “…grew out of my careening journey through music and life. Some are rooted in my own history and experience; some come from an overheard sentence or a persistent memory.”

WSESD Superintendent Search Committee Special Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER—2:00 p.m. — Kerry Amidon, WSESU Board Chair
II. EXECUTIVE SESSION – 1 V.S.A. §313(a)(3) the appointment or employment of public officer or employee, provided that the public body shall make a final decision to hire or appoint a public officer or employee in an open meeting and shall explain the reasons for its final decision during open meeting.

BCTV Schedules – Week of February 7, 2022

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 1075 schedule for the week of 2/7/22

Monday, February 7, 2022

5:25 am North Branch Nature Center – Winter Finch Forecast
6:30 am Around Town with Maria – Decolonizing Brattleboro – Wantastegok 8/26/20
6:50 am Stuck in Vermont – Decluttering with Porter Knight
7:00 am All Things LGBTQ – News 1/25/22
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast

WSESD Board Meeting Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – December 14 (pending) and
January 25, 2022
• FINANCES
Warrants of January 18, 2022

Absentee Ballot Requests are Open!

by RobertOeser | Town News

VOTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOTE ABSENTEE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC

While ballots won’t be ready until mid-February, you can start requesting your absentee ballots NOW and they will be mailed to you as soon as they’re available! It’s super simple. You can request your ballot/s online –

Steve Barrett on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

We say Farewell and Happy Trails to one terrific man who managed and supervised Brattleboro’s infrastructure for 47 years – trouble-shooting from the hip and getting the jobs done. Steve retired at the end of 2021, leaving us in good hands with Dan Tyler who worked with Steve for many years.

Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Joel Ross “Good Vibes”

by vtjazz | Music

Don Was, president of Blue Note records) claims that “Joel is not only one of the preeminent instrumentalists of this era, but he is one of the greatest musical visionaries of his generation.” The concert will be held in front of a reduced-capacity, live audience and will also be live streamed on the Jazz Center’s website (www.vtjazz.org) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/VermontJazzCenter/live/). Ross will be performing with his working quintet called Good Vibes. The group includes Godwin Louis on alto saxophone, Jeremy Corren on piano, Kanoa Mendenhall on upright bass and Jeremy Dutton on drums. This is Ross’ touring and recording ensemble (with Louis replacing Immanuel Wilkins on alto) and is featured on Ross’ two highly respected Blue Note releases: KingMaker and Where are You.

For listeners familiar with the impact of the vibes in bebop and swing, Ross’ dynamic sound recalls jazz legends Red Norvo, Lionel Hampton, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson and Gary Burton. His approach is steeped in the tradition. In fact, he uses an old-school, two mallet technique similar to Milt Jackson rather than the four-mallet technique used by most contemporary vibes players. He does this because he prefers the clarity of sound he is able to achieve. Ross has evolved to become one of the most visible jazz musicians of his generation, joining forces with such titans as Ambrose Akinmusire, James Francies, Jason Palmer, Mckaya McCraven, Marquis Hill, Jonathan Blake, Walter Smith and Matt Stevens. His respect for the past combined with his transcendent ability to enter the “zone” of becoming one with the music have given him a unique voice that is simultaneously modern and timeless. JazzTimes Magazine claims “Not since Stefon Harris’ arrival 20 years ago has the jazz world heard a young vibraphonist intent on exploring so many dimensions.”

Finding Common Ground

by Lise | Op/Ed, Opinion

My father was always conservative. Although never a registered Republican — he preferred to see himself as an Independent — his views were decidedly to the right. For my part, I too saw myself as independent but took the opposite road politically, becoming what he would call “a liberal.” Consequently, we rarely saw eye to eye about political matters, although it never came to blows.

But somewhere in the early 21st century, my dad retired from his job and began to have more time on his hands. Having moved to rural Rhode Island and having no friends in the area or work to keep him occupied, he acquired the unfortunate habit of listening to talk radio. Rush Limbaugh was his favorite show. As a frequent visitor to the new family homestead, I became the target of his right-wing ire. After all, it’s no fun being angry if you have no one to attack over it.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Whiskey and Water

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard feb 2 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard met to discuss liquor license renewals and a safe drinking water system loan Tuesday evening

They granted licenses and accepted free money in record time, withholding most commentary and cutting right to the chase. This qualifies the evening as one of the shortest regular meetings.